The 2017 BMW M5 will be powered by a 600bhp twin-turbocharged V8 engine and will also have four-wheel drive for the first time ever when it’s unveiled later this year.
It’s been known for some time that a new M5 was in the works and development mules have been spotted testing at the Nürburgring prior to the car’s public debut at the Frankfurt Motor Show.
The upcoming M5 will make up to 600bhp from the same 4.4-litre twin-turbo V8 that powered the previous car, albeit with a few choice tweaks to increase power output even further.
The revised engine will get larger turbochargers, while fuel injection pressure has been dialled up to raise output from the standard 552bhp that the previous M5 (pictured here) generated.
With the car’s launch control system engaged, it’s estimated that the new M5 will be able to hit 62mph from a standstill in approximately 3.5 seconds, though exact performance figures are still unclear.
However, the real headline news is how all that power will be delivered, as for the first time in its history the M5 will feature an eight-speed ZF gearbox and a four-wheel drive system.
A BMW insider revealed to Car Keys earlier this year that the next M5 would adopt four-wheel drive, in an effort to better harness the extra power and reduce the all-torque-no-traction qualities of the previous car.
Still, BMW recognises that M cars must be drivers’ cars and so the four-wheel drive setup has been custom designed for the M5 in order to preserve as much of the car’s rear-wheel drive personality as possible.
The car will come with three selectable driving modes, which will include a full rear-wheel drive mode that allows the engine torque to completely bypass the front axle regardless of slip angle.
Essentially, that means that the M5 can be as drifty as drivers like, while they can also select either standard four-wheel drive mode or a more aggressive sport four-wheel drive mode.
The four-wheel drive system adds approximately 64kg to the new M5’s weight. It features extensive use of aluminium and carbon fibre and BMW says it’s 100kg lighter overall than the previous one.
Other upgrades for the new M5 will include steering that’s 25 per cent quicker than before in order to improve handling, along with the option of carbon ceramic brakes.
